Find Out More in Learning about the Law
Free and low-cost legal help
Access Pro Bono | Access Pro Bono has free legal advice clinics across BC. Lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer or can’t get legal aid. | Lower Mainland: 604-878-7400 Toll-free: 1-877-762-6664 |
BC Human Rights Clinic | Operated by the Community Legal Assistance Society, the BC Human Rights Clinic provides assistance and representation to those who need help dealing with a provincial human rights complaint. | Lower Mainland: 604-622-1100 Toll-free: 1-855-685-6222 |
Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) | CLAS provides legal advice and some representation to low-income British Columbians facing a range of problems, including eviction, foreclosure of their mortgage, and human rights complaints. | Lower Mainland: 604-685-3425 Toll-free: 1-888-685-6222 |
Family Justice Centres | These centres are located throughout BC and provide free services (including mediation) to couples going through a separation or divorce. | www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/divorce/family-justice |
Lawyer Referral Service | This service operated by Access Pro Bono can help you find a lawyer who will meet with you for a free 30 minute consultation. | Lower Mainland: 604-687-3221 Toll-free: 1-800-663-1919 |
Legal Aid BC | You may be able to get free legal help (legal aid) if your legal problem is covered by Legal Aid BC’s rules and your income and the value of your property are below a certain limit. Legal Aid BC also has free booklets on legal topics in English and many other languages. |
Lower Mainland: 604-408-2172 Toll-free: 1-866-577-2525 |
MOSAIC | A non-profit that provides free programs and services to help new immigrants and refugees with their settlement in Canada. |
Lower Mainland: 604-254-9626 |
MyLawBC’s Family Resolution Centre | Operated by Legal Aid BC, this program offers free mediation for couples to work out parenting and child support arrangements. | Phone: 604-331-5400 |
PovNet | Their Find an Advocate tool can help you find a legal advocate in your area. Legal advocates provide free support, advocacy and information to low-income people experiencing legal problems. Advocates usually work out of community agencies. | povnet.org |
More information
BC Association of Community Response Networks (BCCRN) | Provides information and help to anyone who is being abused or neglected, or is supporting someone who is. | bccrns.ca | |||
Clicklaw | A website operated by Courthouse Libraries BC that provides legal information, education, and resources from across BC. | clicklaw.bc.ca | |||
Court Information Program for Immigrants | This Justice Education Society program provides free legal information to new immigrants and refugees. Services are provided in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Hindi, French and Spanish. | courtinformation.ca | |||
Dial-A-Law | From People's Law School, Dial-A-Law has brief legal information on over 190 topics. You can listen on the telephone or online. You can also read the information online. | Lower Mainland: 604-687-4680 Toll-free: 1-800-565-5297 | |||
Employment Standards Branch | This BC government office provides free legal information to employees and employers about their rights and responsibilities under BC law. They answer questions and deal with complaints against employers. | Toll-free: 1-800-663-3316 | |||
Families Change: Guide to Separation & Divorce | This Justice Education Society website provides information on separation and divorce for children, teens, and parents. | familieschange.ca | |||
Family Law in BC | This website from Legal Aid BC provides free legal information, publications, and self-help guides on a wide range of family law issues. | family.legalaid.bc.ca | |||
JP Boyd on Family Law | This resource, available online and in print, offers information about family law and the court process in British Columbia. | wiki.clicklaw.bc.ca/index.php/jpboyd | |||
Legal Rights for Youth | This Justice Education Society website describes the legal rights for youth living in British Columbia. | legalrightsforyouth.ca | |||
Mediate BC Society | Mediate BC can put you in touch with a mediator who can help people (including separating couples) work together to find a solution to legal problems. | Lower Mainland: 1-604-684-1300 Toll-free: 1-877-656-1300 | |||
Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry | Nidus provides information to British Columbians about personal planning, including information on making a representation agreement or enduring power of attorney. | nidus.ca | |||
People's Law School | People's Law School provides free education and information to help British Columbians effectively deal with the legal problems of daily life. | Lower Mainland: 604-331-5400 | |||
Public Guardian and Trustee | The office of the Public Guardian and Trustee provides services to those who need help managing their affairs. | Lower Mainland: 604-775-1007 | |||
Residential Tenancy Branch | The BC government department responsible for landlord-tenant matters. Their website has free dispute resolution guides, policy guidelines, and information sheets. | Lower Mainland: 604-660-1020 Victoria: 250-387-1602 | |||
Seniors First BC | A non-profit that provides information on legal topics for older adults and those who care for them. | Lower Mainland: 604-688-1927 Toll-free: 1-866-437-1940 |
Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC) | A non-profit that provides tenants with legal education and assistance. You can phone them if you have a problem with renting. | Toll-free: 1-800-665-1185 |
VictimLink | This is a toll-free, confidential service for victims of crime. Available across BC, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and in 150 languages, it provides information and support to victims. | Toll-free: 1-800-563-0808 | |||
Victimsinfo.ca | A website for victims and witnesses of crime in BC. It gives people the information they need to deal with the consequences of crime. | victimsinfo.ca |
Young people and the law
Clicklaw | A website with legal information and education from across BC. Clicklaw is operated by Courthouse Libraries BC. Start on the homepage (Solve Problems) and explore by topic. Select "Children & teens." You can use the Clicklaw HelpMap to find someone who can help with legal problems. |
clicklaw.bc.ca clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap |
Dial-A-Law | Has brief legal information on over 190 topics. You can listen on the telephone or online. You can also read the information online. Scripts include "Children's Rights" and "Young People and Criminal Law." | Phone: 604-687-4680 1-800-565-5297 dialalaw.ca/ |
Justice Education Society | Legal Rights for Youth is a website for youth. It describes the legal rights for youth living in British Columbia. | legalrightsforyouth.ca |
Lawyer Referral Service | This service can help you find a lawyer who will meet with you for a free 30-minute consultation. | Phone: 604-687-3221 |
People’s Law School | The People’s Law School offers free public legal education and information to the people of British Columbia. | Phone: 604-331-5400 peopleslawschool.ca |
Pro Bono Legal Services | In these programs, lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer or can’t get legal aid. If you have a family law problem, you can contact Access Pro Bono Society of BC. It has legal advice clinics across BC. | Phone: 604-878-7400 1-877-762-6664 accessprobono.ca |
Elder law
BC Association of Community Response Networks (BCCRN) | Provides information and help to anyone who is being abused or neglected, or is supporting someone who is. | bccrns.ca |
Seniors First BC | Provides information about benefits and programs for seniors, financial and legal planning, elder abuse and where to go for help, and how to protect yourself against theft and fraud. | Phone: 604-437-1940 1-866-437-1940 seniorsfirstbc.ca |
Clicklaw | A website that will take you to legal information and education from across BC. Clicklaw is operated by Courthouse Libraries BC. Start on the homepage (Solve Problems) and explore by topic. Select "Seniors." You can use the Clicklaw HelpMap to find someone who can help with legal problems. | clicklaw.bc.ca clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap |
Dial-A-Law | Has brief legal information on over 190 topics. You can listen on the telephone or online. You can also read the information online. Includes information on "Elder Law, Elder Abuse and Seniors' Rights." | Phone: 604-687-4680 1-800-565-5297 dialalaw.ca |
Justice Education Society | The Justice Education Society creates programs and resources that improve access to British Columbia’s justice system. | justiceeducation.ca |
Lawyer Referral Service | This service can help you find a lawyer who will meet with you for a free 30-minutes consultation. | Phone: 604-687-3221 Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-1919 |
Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry | Nidus provides information to British Columbians about personal planning, including information on making a representation agreement or enduring power of attorney. | nidus.ca |
People's Law School | People's Law School offers free public legal education and information to British Columbians. | peopleslawschool.ca |
Pro Bono Legal Services | In these programs, lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer or can’t get legal aid. If you have a family law problem, you can contact Access Pro Bono Society of BC. It has legal advice clinics across BC. | Phone: 604-878-7400 1-877-762-6664 accessprobono.ca |
Public Guardian and Trustee | The office of the Public Guardian and Trustee provides services to adults who need help managing their affairs. | Phone: 604-775-1007 trustee.bc.ca |
VictimLink | VictimLink can put you in touch with counselling and helping services, and people who may be able to help you find a safe place to stay. | 1-800-563-0808 victimlinkbc.ca |
Working in BC
BC Human Rights Clinic | Operated by the Community Legal Assistance Society, the BC Human Rights Clinic provides assistance and representation to those who need help dealing with a provincial human rights complaint. | Phone: 604-622-1100 Phone toll-free: 1-855-685-6222 |
Clicklaw | A website that will take you to legal information and education from across BC. Clicklaw is operated by Courthouse Libraries BC. Start on the homepage (Solve Problems) and explore by topic. Select "Employment." You can use the Clicklaw HelpMap to find someone who can help with legal problems. | clicklaw.bc.ca clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap |
Dial-A-Law | From People's Law School, Dial-A-Law has brief legal information on over 190 topics. You can listen on the telephone or online. You can also read the information online. | Phone: 604-687-4680 Phone toll-free: 1-800-565-5297 |
Justice Education Society | Administrative Law BC is a website that explains what tribunals are and how they work. | adminlawbc.ca |
Lawyer Referral Service | This service can help you find a lawyer who will meet with you for a free 30-minute consultation. | Phone: 604-687-3221 Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-1919 |
MOSAIC | Offers programs and services to help immigrants and refugees in their settlement and integration into Canadian society. |
Phone: 604-254-9626 |
People's Law School | The People's Law School provides people in BC with free public legal education and information. Visit our website or call us to find out how to access the education and information needed to exercise your legal rights and responsibilities. | Phone: 604-331-5400 |
Pro Bono Legal Services | In these programs, lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer or can’t get legal aid. A good place to start is with the Access Pro Bono Society of BC, which has legal advice clinics across BC. | Phone: 604-878-7400 Phone toll-free: 1-877-762-6664 |
Renting a home
BC Human Rights Clinic | Operated by the Community Legal Assistance Society, the BC Human Rights Clinic provides assistance and representation to those who need help dealing with a provincial human rights complaint. | Phone: 604-622-1100 Phone toll-free: 1-855-685-6222 |
Clicklaw | A website that will take you to legal information and education from across BC. Clicklaw is operated by Courthouse Libraries BC. Start on the homepage (Solve Problems) and explore by topic. Select "Housing, tenancy & neighbours." You can use the Clicklaw HelpMap to find someone who can help with legal problems. | clicklaw.bc.ca clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap |
Community Legal Assistance Society | CLAS will provide legal advice and some representation to low-income British Columbians who are facing eviction, foreclosure of their mortgage, expulsion from a co-op, or who want to challenge a Residential Tenancy Branch decision. | Phone: 604-685-3425 Phone toll-free: 1-888-685-6222 |
Dial-A-Law | From People's Law School, Dial-A-Law has brief legal information on over 190 topics. You can listen on the telephone or online. You can also read the information online. | Phone: 604-687-4680 Phone toll-free: 1-800-565-5297 |
Justice Education Society | Administrative Law BC is a website that explains what tribunals are and how they work. | adminlawbc.ca |
Lawyer Referral Service | This service can help you find a lawyer who will meet with you for a free 30-minute consultation. | Phone: 604-687-3221 Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-1919 |
Legal Aid BC | Legal Aid has free print and online booklets in English and many other languages. At the website, select "Housing and tenancy." | lss.bc.ca/publications |
MOSAIC | Offers programs and services to help immigrants and refugees in their settlement and integration into Canadian society. |
Phone: 604-254-9626 |
People's Law School | The People's Law School provides people in BC with free public legal education and information. Visit our website or call us to find out how to access the education and information needed to exercise your legal rights and responsibilities. | Phone: 604-331-5400 |
PovNet | Advocates help low-income people who have renting problems. PovNet is an online resource that can help you contact an advocate in your area. Visit the website and select "Find an Advocate." | povnet.org |
Pro Bono Legal Services | In these programs, lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer or can’t get legal aid. A good place to start is with the Access Pro Bono Society of BC, which has legal advice clinics across BC. | Phone: 604-878-7400 Phone toll-free: 1-877-762-6664 |
Residential Tenancy Branch | The branch of the BC government responsible for landlord-tenant matters. The website has free publications that contain important information. | Vancouver: 604-660-1020 Victoria: 250-387-1602 |
Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC) | The Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre provides tenants with legal education and information about residential tenancy law. You can phone them if you have a problem with renting. You can also read their free publications, including the Tenant Survival Guide. It is available in English or Traditional Chinese. | Phone: 604-255-0546 Phone toll-free: 1-800-665-1185 |
This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by People's Law School, 2021. |
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